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UMA Jazz On Tour will perform in concert with RSU 19 musicians on Friday, January 25 at 6:30PM at Nokomis Regional High. They have volunteered to make the trip to work with each of the district’s middle school jazz band and the high school’s jazz ensemble and combo. Students will be part of a workshop where members of the UMA combo and their director Steve Grover will coach them in preparation for the upcoming jazz festivals in Maine. Their afternoon of work will culminate in a concert that evening to celebrate and display their efforts for the community. The concert will be free of charge, but donations will be gladly accepted. All proceeds will go toward costs associated with transporting students to their instrumental and vocal jazz festivals in the financially struggling RSU during their spring semester.

UMA Jazz On Tour is a performing and touring ensemble representing the Jazz and Contemporary Music Program at The University of Maine at Augusta, which is a degree granting program offering both Associates and Bachelor’s Degrees. The Bachelor’s program offers concentrations in Performance, Composition, Audio Engineering and Music Education. This year the 2012-13 edition of UMA Jazz On Tour features Steve Perry, saxophones; Rurik Brackett , guitar; Darren Hicks, bass; Jesse Feinberg, piano; Steve Grover, drums/director; and guest singer Dorie Barnes. The repertoire includes a mix of standards, jazz standards, arrangements of pop and rock songs, and recent jazz originals, featuring such composers as Cole Porter, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, John Scofield and The Beatles.

UMA Jazz On Tour performs in schools and communities around the state of Maine, giving clinics and concerts. Over the past few years it has performed at Gardiner, Hall-Dale, Lewiston, Lincoln Academy, Nokomis Regional High, Boothbay Regional, Mt. Blue, Waterville, Erskine Academy, Brunswick, Cony, Dixfield, Gardiner, Erskine Academy, Maine Central Institute, Maranacook, Skowhegan, Camden Regional, Mt Ararat, Morse, Kent’s Hill, and Bonny Eagle, among others. UMA Jazz On Tour has also recorded a number of compositions as part of The UMA Jazz and Contemporary Music Program’s Jazz at UMA CD, released in 2002.

UMA Jazz On Tour is directed by award-winning drummer/pianist/composer and UMA faculty member Steve Grover. For more information about UMA Jazz on tour, or the Jazz and contemporary Music Program at UMA, you may contact Mr. Grover at stevegrover@roadrunner.com or 462-1876.

For more information contact RSU 19 Music Coordinator Andrew Maderios at 368-4354 X 650 or amaderios@rsu19.org.